testtest

JP-7: A Look at the Special Fuel of the SR-71

Talyn

Talyn

Emissary
Founding Member

Flying at altitudes and speeds unheard of for contemporary jet aircraft, the Blackbird family required a fuel with unique properties to perform in the extremes the aircraft would be subject to.​

The Mach 3+ speeds of the Lockheed A-12, M-21, YF-12A, and SR-71 would heat fuel up to 350 degrees, and, lacking insulated fuel tanks, the aircraft required a fuel with a high-flash point that would not vaporize or explode under tremendous heat and pressure. Available jet fuels at the time would not work in this environment, someone would have to create such a fuel, and, in addition to fueling the aircraft, the new fuel also was used as an internal coolant, cooling important components of the aircraft.

theaviationist.com

JP-7: A Look at the Special Fuel of the SR-71

Flying at altitudes and speeds unheard of for contemporary jet aircraft, the Blackbird family required a fuel with unique properties to perform in the
theaviationist.com theaviationist.com

1762128746935.png


A Flying Fuel Tank​

With a total of six fuel tanks, the thirsty Lockheed SR-71 had a fuel capacity of over 80,000 pounds of fuel. The tanks occupied areas within the fuselage and wings holding 12,219 gallons total. Each of the SR-71’s two cockpits had large fuel-quantity gauges.

In addition to feeding the twin Pratt & Whitney JP-58 engines, the fuel was used to cool the aircraft as well as components of the aircraft.

1762128930222.png
 
mikep said:
The number of technology advances needed to get that plane flying is wild. Could we do that today? I doubt it.
Click to expand...
I agree, today it would take 50yrs and cost 300x more than projected. Heck we're having a very hard time with ships and subs. Heck the shut down and dismantling of the F-22 program for the F-35 which seems to fly slower than the F-15, F-16 planes never made sense to me. The F-16 fly's circles around the F-35. While our enemies seem to be going full speed ahead, we seem to be riding a stationary bike.
 
Pitdogg2 said:
I agree, today it would take 50yrs and cost 300x more than projected. Heck we're having a very hard time with ships and subs. Heck the shut down and dismantling of the F-22 program for the F-35 which seems to fly slower than the F-15, F-16 planes never made sense to me. The F-16 fly's circles around the F-35. While our enemies seem to be going full speed ahead, we seem to be riding a stationary bike.
Click to expand...
The F-35 was never built for speed. It was supposed to fly in at a further distance with the best radar and shoot down enemy planes at a distance with missiles and if necessary in conjunction with other missile carrying planes.
Remember the Hare and the Tortoise. The fastest is not necessary the winner.
 
Missiles have improved greatly, but I still remember the first Fox4s they sent to the Nam were missile only. Went along with the first Mattie Mattel specials for us ground pounders. A good offense if often negated by a better defense!
 
It's amazing how way back in the day how they could build aircraft like the SR-71 with no high dollar computers ,CAD machines etc. and all the other high dollar stuff .I think at skunk works and the nation as a whole it didn't matter if you were rep or dem the main goal was the defense of out great nation. They all put their heads together and got the job DONE. Word on the street now is a lot of the military hardware has parts and components made in china and other countries and if you took those parts out of the newer planes couldn't fly or even take off. Same with the subs, carriers etc. anything that has any kind of computerized systems.
 
Kir said:
The F-35 was never built for speed. It was supposed to fly in at a further distance with the best radar and shoot down enemy planes at a distance with missiles and if necessary in conjunction with other missile carrying planes.
Click to expand...
It's harder to for me to really love the F-35 after seeing the F-22 overpower the sky. The stuff that the Raptor does in the air is just unbelievable. The F-35 is a pretty bad-*** single engine plane, it ONLY has one engine.

The SR-71 is just a beautiful bird whose mission is undeniably ahead of its time. It looks mean and doesn't even have guns
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top